Obiano saves Onitsha Bridge Market again tasks Pharmacists’ Council of Nigeria on fake drugs

www.odogwublog.com reports that Governor Willie Obiano says proactive steps have been taken by his government to intensify inspection and regulation of patent medicine dealers and sustain the war against illegal sales of drug in its bid to ensure effective drug administration which leads to improve health in the state.
 Governor Obiano made this known when he received a delegation from the Pharmacists' Council of Nigeria who called on him at Governor's Lodge , Amawbia.
 The delegation lead by Council's Registrar, Dr Elijah Mohammed were in the State to appreciate the State Government's commitment towards efficient and effective Pharmaceutical service delivery and to seek new areas of partnership in intensifying efforts towards monitoring the operations of patent medicine vendors in the state.
 Receiving the delegation, Governor Obiano said the 3-pronged approach which his government has adopted to transform the State Health Sector including infrastructural upgrade, comfort of patients and welfare of Medical personnel, is already yielding positive results that require the support of all key players to sustain.
 While noting that a Mega Drug Distribution Centre will soon be established at Onitsha to regulate drugs sold at the Drug Market, Governor Obiano said modalities have been worked out for drugs that go to all Government and mission-owned hospital to be sourced from the State Central Drug store, as a way of ensuring that drugs that go to the consuming public are of the right standards.
 He charged the Council's leadership to check the unethical practice of some of their members who lease their licenses to unqualified patent dealers with a view to getting royalties, which according to him is inimical to efforts aimed at ridding the markets of fake drugs and assured them of his support towards the realization of his mandate.
 The Registrar of the Council, Dr Mohammed while describing as worrisome, the development where due to poor regulation of patent Medicines Dealers, they stock beyond and above the approved drug lists for their prescribed operation, said in response to the anomaly, the Council is seeking the partnership of governments of the various states to ensure that the open vendors operate within the ambits of their specified areas.
 He commended Governor Obiano's interventionist programmes towards effective drug distribution and administration in the state and sought for his assistance in addressing some challenges militating against the full operation, some which he noted include, poor logistics, lack of mobility vehicles for inspection, the protracted crisis at the state drug market among others.
 The State Commissioner for Health, Dr Josephat Akabuike explained that in compliance with the guidelines of the National Drug Distribution Channel, the state has established the State Central Drug Store with the accompanying Quality Control and Drug Information Centre, while the Onitsha Mega Drug Distribution Centre, due to be commissioned in the next two months, will be used as a template for others to be established across the State.             
In a vote of thanks, the Member representing Anambra East in the State Assembly, and Chairman, House Committee on Health, Mr Obinna Emeneka thanked Governor Obiano for his numerous efforts that have aided the activities of the Council, describing them as clear pointers to his commitment to the people's welfare.                   
 On his part, an Industrialist and Member of the Council, Dr Ifeanyi Okoye stressed the need for the dealers to disabuse their minds of the negative notion that government intends to close down the Drug markets, emphasizing that what government is working to achieve is a situation where drug distribution will be done in a manner that inhibits counterfeiting.                               
 Presentation of Pharmacy Education materials and plaque of recognition to the Governor by the Council's Registrar formed the highpoints of the occasion.